BRITAIN needs “months of preparation” before it even starts negotiating breaking away from the crumbling European Union (EU), a Brexit campaigner has warned.

Conservative MEP’s leader Syed Kamall revealed it would be a long and drawn out process before new Prime Minister Theresa May would even think about triggering Article 50 - the formal process for getting out of the Brussels club.

He said Tory politicians would have to discuss “red lines” and draw upon their expertise before “tough and detailed” negotiations began on ditching the EU.

But the Brexiteer was quick to insist Mrs May made it clear “Brexit means Brexit”, despite campaigning to Remain.

Mr Kamall said: "We were starting to talk about the different areas of negotiations, not coming to any conclusions yet.

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The British Government needs to discuss its red lines across all departments

Syed Kamall, Conservative MEP

"I don't think you can say what will be and what won't be on the table. Neither side really have agreed their red lines.

"The British Government needs to discuss its red lines across all departments.

"At the same time in Brussels they haven't decided what their red lines will be in any negotiations."

The Brexit campaigner admitted he did not know how long negotiations would take before Britain eventually leaves the EU, but the meeting would be the first of many.

He added: “I think at the moment we need these months of preparation before Article 50 is invoked so we can start discussing what both sides' red lines will be before we get in to meaningful negotiations."